Photographer brings together 30 Antwerp chefs: ”A world-unique concentration of quality” (Antwerp)
Koen Dhollander takes center stage among a delegation of the chefs from his book. † © Nattida-Jayne Kanyachalao
Antwerp is unique in the world, nowhere else will you find so much variety and quality in gastronomy in such a small area. From this opportunity (photographer Koen Dhollander57) his fourth major project, ‘Chefs in Antwerp’. The book saw the light of day on Monday.
Paul Hendrikx,
The location of the presentation: the late sixteenth-century Vlaeykensgang, where Jöran De Backer stands behind the pots in the Sir Anthony Van Dyck. He is an overview book. The introduction of Davy Brocatus, chairman Horeca Antwerp, who has every confidence that Dhollander has the right collage of what is on the plate in Antwerp: “Koen, who I of his project about ballet, managed to put you at ease. feel in front of the lens. And it works right down to the millimeter.” A perfectionist, like the top chefs themselves.
![](https://img.gva.be/-TnSTuAoP7xAw9_UDyxWcasNcFc=/fit-in/960x640/https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gva.be%2FAssets%2FImages_Upload%2F2022%2F07%2F11%2Fd70bcebc-f09c-49eb-ac18-0f5dce046460.jpg)
© Nattida-Jayne Kanyachalao
In addition to beautiful portraits and bios of the chefs, you will always find a dish in which they distinguish themselves, and its recipe. This creates a gadget that is fun to read, but also on your kitchen counter to try things yourself. Not everything is star level. ‘Ciabatta bread with bacon and cheese’ from Chef Christina’s mobile Omelet Shop has a somewhat lower threshold. Or stew with fries from Brasserie De Post on the Groenplaats: “As long as I could give the chef full attention”, says Koen, who was also visited by a delegation of those kitchen princes and princesses during the book presentation. you serve the food, but not who prepares it. That was my starting point.”
Other places to eat that appear in the book: Las Manas, Tot Straks, Piva, Yam Thai, Zilte… All price categories, all corners of the world. “That is Antwerp at its best, and it’s not over yet, because that combination of portrait-culinary really triggered me. I want to continue in it.” Dhollander previously came up with Antwerp Upper† Ballet in Antwerp and Famous Antwerp†
![Dhollander and Davy Brocatus, who supports the project from Horeca Antwerp.](https://img.gva.be/DCPOfPxxW57747HsXHJIhb-LMxQ=/fit-in/960x640/https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gva.be%2FAssets%2FImages_Upload%2F2022%2F07%2F11%2F3305a4e3-5b27-4c83-9f8a-6ed1f48b38c0.jpg)
Dhollander and Davy Brocatus, who supports the project from Horeca Antwerp. † © Nattida-Jayne Kanyachalao